Record Cold

Temperatures dropped to -7 degrees last week.  Fortunately the weatherman had given us some warning so we had time to prepare.  Here at the pond our main worry was the chickens.  In the past, according to the thermometer in the coop, the temperatures in the coop were the same inside as outside the coop.  Normally that is not a problem as the main purpose of the coop is to keep them dry and out of the wind.  However, in weather this cold, they also needed to be warmer then the outside temperature. 

The first thing Mike did was add some boards to the back of the coop to block some drafts we had detected in the coop.  They were easy to detect as snow sometimes blow in thru the break in the metal siding.  Then he went and found the baby chick heat lamp bulb.  The bulb is red to discourage baby chicks from pecking at one another and to help them sleep.  I guess it worked because the chickens still came into to sleep in the chicken house (and did not appear to be fighting) when we left the light on all night.  It sure looked wierd in there though. 

Heat lamps carry a risk of fire in coops but it was a risk we felt we had to take.  Fortunately it paid off as all twelve chickens were alive and accounted for the next morning and the temperature in there was about 10 degrees higher than outside.  I could not produce visual proof that all twelve chickens were alive as they would not cooperate and pose for a picture.  But at least, we have proof they were eating.  That is another great way for chickens to keep warm.  They eat a lot of food during the day, store some food in their crop, and digest it at night which helps keep their bodies warm. 

Now if they would only lay eggs.